The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-04-21
MRS. BRAY.

y
with splendid bust, and arms which
she did not mind showing. was lit
tie pale creature, neither ugly nor pref
ty, but did not envy her. Let all the
men on earth admire her-one loved me.
If was fair in his eyes cared nothing
for her.
The other girls We're jealous at times
Madge Burt and Barbara Brown declar-
ed that there was no such thing rs get
ting any attention from any one where
she was. and certainly she tried her
best to fascinate her. Militant Bray
was her name, and | understand that,
Young us she was. she was a divorced
woman.
1t may have been that she was very
much ill-uscd by her husband. and had
been the injured party altogether-l
presume it is often so--but pure women
will bear good deal rather than sever
the only tie that binds them to a hus-
bands side. and there is always u
doubt about divorce. Some of the
ladies at Mrs. Horizons shrugged their
shoulders and wondered what the old
lady had been thinking of to take Mrs.
Bray in. The gentlemen, however,
fought in her defense. Beautiful. mu-
steal, fond of ii rtation and apt at flat
terry. she won her way into their liking.
For my par. l did not respect her one
whit. l did not see anything to love
in her, but l admired her. Unlike
most women, always found myself
able to see the charms that men see in
a personally attractive woman.
But were 1 man | could not do as
men do; tlatter these tlrts at the ex-
pense of true hearted women, who love
them with all their souls. When good
Mrs. Carman went to her room with
tears in her eyes, leaving Mr.. Carman
whispering soft nothings in Mrs. Bray
ear and when little Ellie Fay crimson
ed and trembied with anger because
her lover forgot ner while he turned
the beautv's music and looked down in
her eyes, often thought to myself that
those were poor triumphs after all. and
that those men who gave them to her
were but lily creatures. She liked
none of them. She Knocked them and
had little nicknameS for each. She was
cold in heart us she was warm in man
ner. Her imprisoned chances were
those of an actress and nothing more.
She gave these chances to my Harry
as we'll as to others, but had no fear
of their effect OF course he knew she
was handsome and that she sang we'll;
so did l.
We had met at Mrs. Horizons.
was an orphan and taught music fol-
my bread; he WIS Il young clerk in 4
wholesale house. Al our first meeting
we liked each other, and he was the
only lover had ever had. When |
gave him my betrothal kiss 1t was with
lips that had never met those of any
man before, and was glad to think of
it. We had been engaged three months.
and were to be married in the spring.
We were wrapped up in each other, anc
concerned ourselves very little about
Mrs. BRAY. did not. 1t pleased me
better to think of better women. There
were others whose minds were continu-
ally running on her, however. Jealous
Effie Fay could never quite forget her.
Over and over and over again she sat in
my room, with tears pouring down hel
cheeks, and talked of her.
'She's a wretch" she declared, SO
bold, forward, cruel creature. She
knows Charlie is engaged to me. She
knows it. l see it in her eyes; and she
works so hard to get him to herself
! Charlie doesn't know what he is doing
for himself. / shall break with hin
vet, and do love him so. No one viii
ever love him so much"
Then she would cry again and begin
the old story of Mrs. Bray's conduct
of her looks, her contrivances, hel
becks and wreathed smiles. felt sorr,
for the child; she was but 16, and sorry
too, for Charlie, who was acting a
most foolish boys do under those cir
cumstances, But one morning she be
gan another strain.
"Mrs. Bray is at work with you
Harry now," she said, land she'll twis
him round her finger soon, as she doe
nv Charlie. It's witchcraft thos
women have-an unholy power of som
kind. You'll see, Etheli you'll SUITE
as l do SOON"
And then she spoke of words ant
looks and ACTIONS that had quite escap
ed me, but which, spoken of. made m
strangely uncomfortable. had ute
faith in Harry, but l did not like t.
hear such things. At first it was onl
that, but after while it was more.
As the days went On I noticed on
or two things that were suspicious.
saw that she contrived to meet M
lover in the halls and on the stairs, Il
sit near him at dinner-time, to 60 GU
upon the balcony when he did.
Charlie Beech was allowed to sill
back into his old place in Effie's hear
J and my Harry was Mrs. Bray's objec
Effie had been sharper than |, BY
Harry was too strong in his love IL
me 10 yield, l felt sure.
1t was about the time that Harry
business compelled hina to choose
boarding-place further down tow
He left Mrs. Norton S, and only calle
to see nae ip the evenings, and we b.
gan to write to each other. l have til
little notes he wrote me carefully hit
den away even now.
| They are very precious to me. As
read them oyer they bring those hour
back again and / ana q young and To-
ing girl once more.
never loved Harry more ten<er1
a, 49,. r ,o+ Jou,p RI NV dpak or